Sexual Awakening Films For Straight Men

Do you remember that time in your childhood when you went from thinking the opposite sex were objectionably gross to… fancying one of them like crazy? It could well have been someone in your class or the girl next door, but for many men there was also another woman – beamed onto your impressionable retinas from a cinema screen, mostly fictional and totally out of this world. These were the films that made us realise that there was more to life than just, y’know, Lego.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

“At Ridgemont High, only the rules get busted.” The stoner comedy set at a California high school made a generation of lads “feel a bit funny”, mainly thanks to Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates), who was more worldly than her classmates due to a penchant for older men. Her slo-mo poolside scene caused much popcorn to be dropped and her carrot-based demonstration of how to give a blowjob meant root veg never looked quite the same.

Cruel Intentions (1999)

Sarah Michelle Gellar had already launched a thousand crushes in Buffy The Vampire Slayer but went one louder as the coke-snorting manipulatrix in this Manhattan rich kid remake of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Meanwhile, womanizing Ryan Phillippe seduced virginal Reese Witherspoon. And then was THAT girl-on-girl snog between Gellar and Selma Blair. Crude intentions, more like.

Basic Instinct (1992)

“You know I don't like to wear underwear, don't you, Nick?” Behold one of the most paused moments in VHS history. This neo-noir erotic thriller propelled relative unknown Sharon Stone, who was 14th choice for the role, to megastardom. As murderous bisexual crime novelist Catherine Tramell, she taunted Michael Douglas’ sweaty cop by insouciantly smoking during her interrogation and briefly flashing him. When she crossed her legs, male movie-goers crossed theirs too. Only less alluringly.

American Pie (1999)

“This one time, at band camp…” Forget the increasingly lame sequels, we’re talking the original teen sex com of the late 90s, with its classic premise of four mates making a pact to lose their virginity before high school graduation. Baked goods aside, it’s full of standout saucy scenes, from Slovakian exchange student Nadia’s webcam strip to Mr Finch’s pool table romp with Stifler’s mom. Milf! Milf! Milf!

Return Of The Jedi (1983)

TheStar Wars franchise isn’t renowned for its sexiness – with one infamous exception. When Kenneth Clarke lookalike Jabba The Hutt made Princess Leia his slave, Carrie Fisher’s copper bikini caused a global nerdgasm. It’s a favorite of fancy-dressed female fans at conventions, a Halloween costume of choice and inspired a memorable episode of Friends, when Rachel dressed up to fulfil Ross’ fantasy. A fan later bought the costume at auction for $96,000. The dirty fecker.

The Mask (1994)

Sssssmokin’! Cameron Diaz made a massive impact in her film debut as nightclub singer-cum-gangster’s girlfriend Tina Carlyle. Her slo-mo arrival in the bank where hapless hero Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) worked was a tongue-in-cheek male fantasy, as Diaz fastened her shoe, shook the rain from her hair and sashayed across the lobby in her red dress. Somebody stop us.

Weird Science (1985)

“So what would you little maniacs like to do first?” Director John Hughes’ none-more-80s update of Frankenstein found two unpopular nerds creating a virtual dream woman (pouty model Kelly Le Brock) who comes to life and transforms their feeble existences. Le Brock later described her character as "Mary Poppins with breasts”. And a far too small white T-shirt.

Titanic (1997)

“Draw me like one of your French girls.” Posh passenger Rose (Kate Winslet) stripping off for bit-of-rough artist Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) was merely a prelude to “Put your hands on me, Jack” and their iconic in-car sex scene, complete with sweaty hand on steamy window. It almost made three epic hours of CGI boat-sinking boredom worthwhile. Almost.

Batman Returns (1992)

Michael Keaton’s tormented but slightly dull superhero. Tim Burton’s depressingly dark direction. Not a classic in the Batman canon but the big win was Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, aka Selina Kyle. With her S&M-styled black vinyl suit and whip, Pfeiffer purred and slinked seductively as the feminist avenger – proving such a hit with fanboys, there was an epidemic of poster thefts. Miaow.

Trading Places (1983)

In the classic life-swap comedy, hooker-with-a-heart Jamie Lee Curtis rescued down-on-his-luck Wall Street broker Dan Aykroyd and helped him wreak revenge. When she caught him watching her undress, she sassily told him: “Food and rent aren't the only things around here that cost money. You sleep on the couch.” Even BAFTA were wowed by that glimpse of her topless in the bathroom mirror: Curtis won that year’s gong for Best Supporting Actress.

Grease (1978)

It’s hard to overstate how huge the musical romcom set at a 50s high school was. Literally everyone saw it, meaning millions of boys were bewitched by post-makeover Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) at the carnival, clad in black leather and spandex, drawling: “Tell me about it, stud.” Rizzo and Kenickie giving each other hickeys was pretty hot too.

Transformers (2007)

All Bond films (1962-2015)

The two dozen Bond movies are a constant in every man’s life – appearing at cinemas every few years and endlessly repeated on TV – and hence have been a rite-of-passage for generations. Take your pick from gymnastic female bodyguards Bambi and Thumper in Diamonds Are Forever, Honey Ryder emerging from the sea in Dr No, Xenia Onatopp crushing men between her thighs in in GoldenEye or Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. All left male audiences awakened and stirred.